What is the first literary period?

The first literary period is often considered to be the Ancient or Classical period, which includes literature from ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. This period is characterized by foundational texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," and works by playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides. These texts explored themes of heroism, morality, and the human condition, laying the groundwork for future literary traditions.